This Report, featuring product news and information from a sampling of reed and mouthpiece manufacturers, is designed to guide band and orchestra directors through the complex process of helping students select the right reed or mouthpiece. Whether the student is a beginning clarinetist, an advanced French hornist or an up-and-coming bassoonist, this Report covers single reeds, double reeds, woodwind mouthpieces and brasswind mouthpieces for all levels.

American Way Marketing

American Way Marketing is an Indiana-based manufacturer and distributor of brass and woodwind instrument accessories, including the reeds and mouthpieces of Rico International and the mouthpieces of Claude Lakey, Bari, Meyer, Otto Link, Berg Larsen, Selmer (Paris), Bach Jet-Tone, Giardinelli and Yamaha. Other reed lines are Bari and Fibracell synthetic reeds and Fibercane and Emerald double reeds.

American Way also contracts for the manufacture of its own proprietary “faxx” brand of rubber woodwind mouthpieces and a full line of brasswind mouthpieces. Branded faxx because all cups and facings are facsimiles of popular models, the medium-priced line provides students and advanced players with quality mouthpieces at reasonable cost.

j.j. Babbitt
www.jjbabbitt.com

One of the world’s largest and oldest manufacturers of mouthpieces for saxophones and clarinets, jj Babbitt supplies mouthpieces internationally to instrument manufacturers, professional musicians, distributors, and dealers. In 1919, jj Babbitt was founded in Elkhart, Ind., by inventor and amateur photographer, Jesse James Babbitt, with five employees.

The company is one of very few mouthpiece manufacturers to handle hard rubber molding and vulcanizing in-house, giving jj Babbitt complete control over the quality of its rubber and, therefore, of its finished products. More than 2,000 different sizes and styles of mouthpieces are produced by Babbitt at the rate of about 300,000 per year. Always an innovator in the music industry, the company continues to experiment with new materials in its ongoing goal to improve woodwind mouthpieces and to provide players with the products they want and need. The company is currently developing a completely new stainless steel tenor sax mouthpiece and a hard rubber counterpart.

During its first 50 years, Babbitt produced mouthpieces only under the jj Babbitt name. After 1970, the company acquired four new mouthpiece lines: Otto Link, Meyer, Guy Hawkins, and Wolfe Tayne. All are offered in both metal and rubber styles. The jj Babbitt line is also available in plastic and various Otto Link models in 24k gold plate. In addition to its five regular lines of mouthpieces, jj Babbitt offers private labeling.

Otto Link mouthpieces are a long-time top choice of professional musicians, but are also ideal for players of all levels, regardless of their individual sound or style. The 24k gold-plated metal saxophone models combine gleaming good looks with the sound quality of a larger bore rubber mouthpiece. The most popular selling Otto Link is the tenor sax model. In celebration of the company’s 80th birthday and to commemorate the year 2000, a special limited edition Otto Link millennium mouthpiece was produced. Rubber models are offered in alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone saxophone and Bb clarinet.

Meyer, the company’s top-seller, is one of the world’s finest hard rubber and metal mouthpiece lines and is very easy to blow. These mouthpieces are the number one choice of students and aspiring professionals for this reason. Two new mouthpieces were added to the Meyer line late in 2002. The M45 for clarinet produces a dark centered sound that projects yet is flexible enough to meet even the most demanding player’s individual needs. The Meyer “G” is specially designed to recreate the alto sax sounds made famous by great musicians of the past, such as Paul Desmond. This mouthpiece was developed in response to professional and advanced sax players who asked the company to devise a mouthpiece that could recreate the unique sound of the renowned jazz musician. The new “G” mouthpiece can also help intermediate players achieve a better sound.

Wolfe Tayne metal mouthpieces deliver even tone throughout all registers for dynamic sound quality. The hard rubber versions render low notes that are full and responsive and higher notes that are crisp and resonant. This model is another favorite of players at all skill levels.

Guy Hawkins hard rubber mouthpieces deliver smooth, even tones for superb sound quality. They feature precision facings and acoustically balanced tone chambers. Forged metal models hold 1/10 to 1/1000 accuracy for powerful sound quality.

jj Babbitt mouthpieces are available in metal, rubber or sculptured plastic. All are made with precision facings and acoustically balanced chambers for deep, resonant sound. jj Babbitt hard rubber mouthpieces deliver subtleties of tone to help players create their own sound. The Babbitt Supreme Metal Jazz, designed by E.B. (Bud) Reglein, is available for alto, tenor and baritone sax, each with a choice of four tip openings sizes. Plastic models are custom-created with medium, medium open and open lays for Bb clarinet and tenor and C melody saxophone.

Bach
A Division of Selmer
www.selmer.com

After having his favorite mouthpiece ruined by a repairman, Vincent Bach recognized the need by brass players for high-quality mouthpieces. In 1918, he invested $300 for a foot-operated lathe and office in New York City, and began making mouthpieces while still playing part-time. Offers of $50 were soon received for Bach mouthpieces in a time when mouthpieces sold for $1.50. From that point on, Bach’s business grew rapidly. In 1961, at the age of 71, Bach sold his company to Selmer. All tooling was moved to the Selmer facility in Elkhart, Ind., and all original designs and blueprints have been carefully preserved.

Mega Tone mouthpieces are the newest addition to the Bach line. They feature additional brass material to create a darker, more focused sound. In addition to thousands of standard mouthpieces, Bach also offers screw-rim designs with interchangeable rims and under-parts and custom models.

Bari Associates
www.bari-assoc.com

Wolfe Taninbaum, president of Bari Associates, started out as a musician, playing with such famous orchestras as Les Brown, Benny Goodman and Jimmy Dorsey, among others. He also was employed by CBS as a studio musician.

While at CBS in New York City, he had an interest in cane reeds and mouthpieces and developed a business in these products. After over 30 years he chose to retire and sold the company.

His retirement was short-lived, however, as he turned his attention to creating “the perfect reed.” After two years of research, Taninbaum developed the first plastic reed that has since gained acceptance from some of the world’s top jazz players. A new synthetic reed, the Bari Star, has been received favorably by serious players seeking quality, long life and consistency of strength. The reed is particularly well suited for doublers. Bari also offers a comprehensive line of mouthpieces for all woodwinds in metal, hard rubber and plastic.

Boosey & Hawkes
www.boosey.com

Boosey & Hawkes distributes a wide variety of mouthpieces as well as Rico reeds. The Denis Wick line of brass mouthpieces were developed by Denis Wick, who enjoys an international reputation as a virtuoso trombonist and brass teacher. Wick, in consultation with many of the world’s finest brass players, developed this line of mouthpieces for the entire brass range. Made in England to fine tolerances, each mouthpiece is hand-made, gold- or silver-plated and beautifully finished. The rims of each model are designed to give maximum comfort and firm control.

The Buffet Classique clarinet mouthpieces series has been designed to provide consistent quality for professionals and students. Machined from hard rubber, these mouthpieces are meticulously hand-finished to exacting tolerances. Facings include close, medium and open.

The Buffet Qualite saxophone mouthpieces are made from hard rubber with carefully machined facings to provide an exceptional economic mouthpiece. Available in medium facings only.

Designed for the student, the Buffet Bandmaster series offers exceptional value and quality. Made from injection-molded plastic with machined facings. Available in medium only.
The Keilwerth saxophone mouthpieces, designed and developed by Herb Couf, offer control and comfort with just the right resistance and freedom in all registers. The Keilwerth saxophone mouthpieces are made of high-quality hard rubber and are professionally hand-finished to exact facings.

Chartier Double Reed Co.
www.ChartierReeds.com

Chartier Reeds was established more than 50 years ago by R.C. Chartier. While playing professionally and making his own reeds, he realized the need for quality hand-finished and graded commercial double reeds.

After going to southern France and Spain and securing sources for cane, Chartier established his company and began supplying the industry with fully guaranteed, hand-finished oboe, bassoon and English horn reeds.

For the last two decades, the company has been run by R.C.’s eldest son, Gregg Chartier. He has expanded the company to include single reeds, as well as supplying raw material and partially finished goods to the reed-making industry.

The Chartier line today includes traditional oboe reeds, American Scrape Artiste oboe reeds, European Cut oboe reeds, bassoon reeds, Artiste bassoon reeds, contrabassoon reeds, English horn reeds, synthetic oboe and bassoon reeds, and Avant brand cane and synthetic single reed for clarinet and saxophone. Headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M., Chartier also offers private label reeds of all kinds.

Bobby Dukoff

Bobby Dukoff is well known for his lush tenor sax stylings. His “Sax in Silk” album for RCA Victor started the trend by being a bestseller. Dukoff has always been fascinated with the mechanics of mouthpieces as he realized that “the sound starts there.” While playing shows in California, he started experimenting in his garage and soon all his friends from the big band days were coming around to have Dukoff “touch up” their mouthpieces. This naturally led to his own mouthpiece business and today those early California models are collector’s items.

Dukoff’s natural curiosity has kept him constantly experimenting to come up with a better product. To Dukoff, mouthpieces have a character of their own and it’s his desire to fit the correct mouthpiece to the style of player. Dukoff is still a playing musician and well aware of the problems to be met on every job.

Clark Fobes
www.clarkwfobes.com

Clark W. Fobes has been making professional clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces for more than 15 years and has emerged in the past five years as a purveyor of quality hand-finished clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces for students. His “Debut” series of acrylic mouthpieces features ease of response, tone quality, intonation and consistent quality.

Fobes holds degrees in music performance from C.S.U., Fresno (BA) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM). His principal teachers were Dennis Layne, Russell S. Howland, Gary Gray, George E. Waln, Howard Klug and Rosario Mazzeo. Fobes has been an active freelance clarinetist in San Francisco since 1981 and performs regularly with the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, California Symphony and the Skywalker Ranch Orchestra. Fobes performs exclusively on his own mouthpieces from Eb clarinet to BBb contra bass clarinet and feels that this is an essential component to his success in evaluating his products.

Prior to devoting his career as an artisan to mouthpiece manufacture, Fobes was a nationally recognized clarinet/bass clarinet repair specialist. His interests in acoustics led him into the area of voicing and tuning clarinets for many professionals and later into barrel joint manufacturing.

Clark W. Fobes offers three levels of mouthpieces for clarinet and saxophone. The “Debut” series are injection-molded acrylic mouthpieces. These mouthpieces are all hand-finished with standard, professional facings and are priced for student budgets. The NOVA series are hard rubber, professional quality mouthpieces, but moderately priced. The Clark W. Fobes “San Francisco” series are uniquely hand-crafted mouthpieces for the entire clarinet family. Each mouthpiece receives a serial number upon completion and is measured and logged. He offers a large array of facings for soprano clarinet and three facings for bass clarinet.

French American Reed Manufacturing Co.

The French American Reed Mfg. Co. produces a complete line of clarinet and saxophone reeds (from Eb clarinet to bass saxophone) using its own exclusive diamond-cutting, high precision machines. This technology, coupled with personal supervision at every level of production, results in a reed which has been an industry standard for responsiveness, clarity and consistency.

French American reeds were developed by the late Mario Maccaferri, whose involvement with reeds and instruments dates from his position as technical director of the Selmer Company in Paris. He started the French American Reed Mfg. Co. in 1934 and moved it to the United States five years later, where it has been producing the finest reeds uninterruptedly over the years.

The brands are My Masterpiece and Populaire, available in nine strengths and packaged in see-through plastic boxes of five, 10 and 25. The box of five features an exclusive built-in reed holder. Also manufactured by French American is the Reed-O-Meter: a small, compact, hand-held device that is the universal standard for measuring reed strengths. With this precision instrument, the musician can get the right reed every time.

Hodge Products Inc.
www.hodgeproductsinc.com

Hodge Products Inc. is a manufacturer of silk woodwind swabs and double reeds which are sold in stores nationwide and is also a mail-order dealer of a large selection of double reed supplies, including hand-made oboe, English horn and bassoon reeds. The oboe and English horn reeds are hand-made by the owner and president, Ann Hodge, an oboist in the Washington, D.C., area.

The reeds come in varying strengths, ranging from soft to hard, depending on the needs of the oboist. Soft reeds are recommended for beginners who have not yet developed embouchure control or breath support. Medium soft, medium and medium hard reeds are all recommended for intermediate to advanced players. The level chosen is often based on personal preference as well as playing ability. Hard reeds are not completely finished and are recommended for those who like to finish them themselves. English horn reeds are available in soft, medium and hard only.

Hodge reeds are typically very stable, relatively dark-sounding reeds, yet with freedom in blowing that allows the player to give a lot of “life” to the sound. These reeds will also improve intonation. Because Hodge hand-makes each reed, adjustments can be made during production to each reed, as the cane dictates, in order to make each reed respond to the best of its ability and produce the best sound possible.

Hodge Products also carries oboe reeds hand-made by another professional oboist in the Washington/Baltimore area, Kenny Stilwell. Stilwell’s reeds are similar in stability and sound to Hodge’s reeds but are a little more open, which can help with being able to play louder and with a fuller sound. They are available in medium and medium hard, and only recommended for the intermediate to advanced players.

Bassoon reeds are offered in the Hodge Products catalog as well. There are two brands available. Brundage reeds are hand-made by David Brundage, bassoonist in the Army Band in Washington, D.C. His standard reed is free-blowing and recommended for any type of player. Also available is his professional model, which is a little more resistant than the standard. Bassoon reeds made by Ovidio Danzi of Italy are also offered – a professional reed and a student reed. The professional reed is harder to play than the student reed and in many cases needs to have some adjustments made to it in order to vibrate the way the player would like. These are recommended for those who like to have enough cane in the reed to make their own personal adjustments.

Holton
A division of G. Leblanc Corp.
www.gleblanc.com

The name Holton has been associated with the music industry since 1898, when a former first trombonist from John Philip Sousa’s band opened his shop on the corner of Chicago’s Clark and Madison streets selling used instruments and his own secret-formula lubricant, “Electric Oil.” The business prospered, and today Frank Holton’s two-room company is one of the most respected makers in the business, producing brasswind instruments and mouthpieces of the highest standard.

Today, Holton engineers use a computer-aided design (CAD) system to create mouthpieces that are manufactured with a CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) turning center. Made from solid brass and either silver- or gold-plated, Holton brasswind mouthpieces are known for uniformity and consistency, “from trumpet to tuba.”

Holton mouthpieces are available for trumpet, cornet, fluegelhorn, tenor trombone, bass trombone, alto horn, mellophone, and BBb tuba.

International Musical Suppliers Inc.
www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com

International Musical Suppliers Inc. was started in 1986 by Lisa Argiris, recipient of the “2002 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award” from the Chicago chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners).

IMS is a distributor of brass and woodwind band instruments and accessories worldwide, including Steuer reeds, Zinner mouthpiece blanks, Joue Jolie ligatures, IMS brand swabs and wooden reed cases.

Steuer reeds, made in Germany, produce a wide variety of reeds that work very well for the amateur or professional musician alike. Zinner blanks are made from the finest rubber, producing a rich, warm and dark sound that enhances articulation. Joue Jolie ligatures offer an unmatched response and vibrancy.

Jet-Tone/ Bamber/ RIA

Jet-Tone mouthpieces have been played and respected for many years. The original design was conceived by a musician who wanted to create a mouthpiece that would perform under demanding conditions. It had to be hot, high, mellow, very comfortable and above all, easy to play. Through field testing and working with some of the world’s greatest brassmen, Jet-Tone mouthpieces came into prominence. Today they are used by students and professionals. Jet-Tone has recently introduced its M series, designed in consultation with trumpet virtuoso Leon Merian, who has played with the likes of Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, Gene Krupa and many more. Cup depths are C, E and the “Sizzler” model for lead and high work.

The RIA company was founded by the late Milton Moskowitz, renowned clarinetist with the NYC Ballet Orchestra. His original mouthpiece designs are exactingly implemented using the latest computer-controlled technology, then hand-finished by skilled European craftsmen. Until recently, RIA mouthpieces were sold exclusively through woodwind specialty shops. Now they are available at local music stores.

RIA saxophone mouthpieces are available in either plated brass or hard rubber for soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. RIA clarinet mouthpieces are made of Italian crystal for Bb and Eb clarinets.

Jones Double Reed Products
www.jonesdoublereed.com

Jones Double Reed Products continues a nearly 40-year tradition as a leader in high-quality double reeds and accessories. Jones oboe, bassoon, English horn and contrabassoon reeds are manufactured using the most sophisticated machinery in the industry, and then hand-finished and tested by professional musicians. JDRP’s Jones and Meason brands of double reeds are available worldwide.

JDRP continues as the exclusive U.S. distributor for Luciano Pisoni’s well-respected line of Italian musical products. These include tools for reed-making and finishing, as well as a variety of processed cane from oboe to contrabassoon. On the single reed side, Pisoni’s line includes a selection of clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces and ligatures as well as reed-finishing tools.

The most recent addition to the Jones selection of quality musical products is the Daniel’s line of clarinet and saxophone reeds. Crafted to exacting standards using the finest French cane, the Daniel’s single reeds have become a favorite of jazz musicians from coast to coast. Daniel’s reeds are available in three and 10 packs in the full range of sizes.

Claude Lakey Mouthpieces
www.claudelakey.com

Redmond, Wash.-based Claude Lakey Mouthpieces is now in its 29th year of producing woodwind mouthpieces known for their ease of playing, harmonic response, intonation and endurance. A total of 18 models are offered for alto saxophone, tenor sax, soprano sax and clarinet, including, as of February 1, 1999, a new line of solid brass mouthpieces for alto and tenor sax.

G. Leblanc Corp.
www.gleblanc.com

In addition to Holton brasswind mouthpieces and Woodwind Company woodwind mouthpieces, Leblanc markets Giardinelli and Jet-Tone brand brasswind mouthpieces and Gower double reeds, Stevens synthetic bassoon reeds, Bari synthetic single reeds, and Fibracell synthetic single reeds.

Leblanc is a full-line distributor of both Rico and Marca reeds. Not long ago, Leblanc and the Marca reed company of France joined forces to bring clarinetists the Marca Superieure, a Bb clarinet reed boasting balance, tone and consistency. All reeds are offered in strengths of 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4. They can be purchased in boxes of 10 or singly in protective plastic sleeves from the Marca Vend-Pack merchandiser.

Marcinkiewicz Co. Inc.
www.teleport.com/~mmpco

Founded in the early 1980s as an outgrowth of Joe Marcinkiewicz’s study with legendary mouthpiece craftsman Burt Herrick, Marcinkiewicz Co. was the first brass mouthpiece company to use computer (or CNC) technology in the manufacturing process. The use of CNC cutting lathes enables Marcinkiewicz to guarantee dimensions of their mouthpieces to .001 inches, a first for the mouthpiece industry. The advantage of CNC technology is that it enables the company to use a precise graduation from small to large, deep to shallow. This enables the player to choose a mouthpiece that fits him/her at all stages of development. In addition to the stock mouthpieces, Marcinkiewicz is also available to custom-make a mouthpiece to fit a player’s needs.

Mr. Music/Flavoreeds

After eight years of research, Mr. Music perfected a method for coloring and flavoring a cane reed so that it was pleasant tasting and pleasant looking without changing the playing characteristics of a premium reed. Students will moisten a Flavoreed thoroughly because it has a pleasant flavor. To play well, reeds do not have to taste bad.

Some dealers have suggested to Mr. Music that the reeds play so well because the flavoring and coloring actually fill the pores of the cane. Players get the same results when they rub the reed with their fingers to remove air and moisture from the pores. Flavoreeds are manufactured from select French cane and are packaged with two reeds in a twin-pack. They are available in 10 different flavors and in five levels of stiffness from 1.5 to 3.5 for Bb clarinet and alto saxophone.

Olivieri Reed Co.

The Olivieri Reed Co. is one of the older reed manufacturers in the world. Founded in 1928 by Victor Olivieri in Paris, France, and later moving to Mallorca, Spain, the company hand-crafted high quality reeds using a European tradition. Victor’s son, Charles, continued the tradition in Spain in 1954 until the sale of the company to MW Enterprises Inc. in 2001. Charles Olivieri continues to work for the company in North Carolina. Olivieri Reeds are still meticulously hand-crafted using the same time-honored European traditions.

Philip Muncy, president of MW Enterprises and founder of Muncy Winds Music Company, has been making reeds for a number of years. While a clarinet student with Robert Listokin, he began making his own reeds in 1975 and later worked closely developing new reeds with Gebhard Steuer in Lindau, Germany. Muncy saw the need for traditional reed-making techniques to continue after the death of Mr. Steuer in 1997.
Now producing reeds from two great traditions, Olivieri Reeds introduces the new Olivieri Elite clarinet reeds. Olivieri Traditional reeds are produced in the same manner as they were more than 25 years ago.

Parduba Mouthpieces
www.parduba.com/parduba.aspx

The Parduba Double-Cup Mouthpieces are again being manufactured by A&G Music Products Co. of Oakland, Calif. The company also makes the Harry James and Parduba Standard Cup to the original specifications of these models. Other Parduba models include the Parduba trombone mouthpieces and the flugelhorn mouthpieces, both of which offer the double cup.

B. Portnoy Clarinet Accessories

In business since 1963, Portnoy Clarinet Accessories is owned and operated by Bernard Portnoy, clarinetist and retired Indiana University professor. He has also performed as solo clarinetist with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Symphony.

Known for their consistency and exactness, Portnoy mouthpieces achieve excellent response for both beginners and professionals. The mouthpieces are offered in three facings. The original model BP02 remains the most popular with professional players and students. The other models are the BP1 (closed facing) and the BP3 (open facing). The BP3 is recommended for doublers. Bernard Portnoy personally examines and tests each mouthpiece prior to shipping.

Remle Musical Products

Remle Musical Products Inc. features the Beechler and ARB mouthpiece lines. Founded by Elmer Beechler, the California-based company has been in business for more than 50 years.

Remle markets a complete product line for saxophones and clarinets and offers an almost unlimited selection in materials, facing and bore size. Mouthpieces are available in hard rubber, stainless steel, gold plate and plastic composite. All mouthpieces are finished with a hand-facing. Custom-made mouthpieces are also available.

Beechler Diamond Inlay mouthpieces come in three bore sizes and facings from two to 10. Larger tip openings are available on request. Hard rubber, stainless steel and gold-plated mouthpieces come in one bore size and are available with the same facing range as the Diamond Inlay. ARB composite mouthpieces come in two bore sizes and facings from two to 10 with larger tip openings available on request. ARB metal mouthpieces come in one bore size with facings from two to 10. Larger tip openings are also available on request.

Rico International
www.ricoreeds.com

Rico International is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of woodwind reeds and accessories for musical instruments. Established as a U.S. manufacturer in 1938, it has exported products worldwide since 1946.

Designed for professional, advancing and beginning students, Rico’s reeds and accessories are manufactured and distributed under the following brand names: Rico reeds, Rico Royal reeds, Rico Select Jazz reeds, Rico Jazz reeds, La Voz reeds, Plasticover reeds, Symmetricut reeds, Frederick L. Hemke reeds, Mitchell Lurie reeds, Grand Concert Quarter Strength reeds, and Rico and La Voz double reeds, plus Rico Royal Graftonite and Metalite mouthpieces.

Rico International recently introduced Rico Jazz and Rico Select Jazz reeds, the first reeds ever developed for and designed by jazz saxophonists. Rico Jazz reeds feature outstanding clarity and control in traditional half strengths. Rico Select Jazz reeds are graded in third strengths and are made from a very scarce, superior quality cane. Their limited production makes them as rare as they are remarkable, so that saxophonists will find more reeds that play right from the box.

Runyon Products
www.runyonproducts.com

For more than five decades, Santy Runyon has been crafting mouthpieces for clarinet, saxophone and bassoon. Also included in the Runyon lineup are a variety of ligatures, caps, plugs and straps for woodwind players.

Among key current products for the Louisiana-based company is the Runyon “Quantum” saxophone mouthpiece, characterized by a centered sound and immediate and even response. Runyon’s “Spoiler” mouthpiece is known for its high degree of range, control and coloration.

Selmer
www.selmer.com

Besides making a full line of mouthpieces for clarinet and sax players, Selmer also owns Bach, which makes a full range of mouthpieces for brass instruments.

The Selmer family of mouthpieces traces its roots back to the late 19th century. As musicians in the French military bands, members of the Selmer family began crafting their own reeds and mouthpieces. Demand greatly increased at the turn of the century with Alexandre Selmer serving as principal clarinetist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Today, Selmer offers three different styles of clarinet mouthpieces covering the entire family: Eb soprano, Bb soprano, Eb alto, Bb bass, EEb contralto, BBb contrabass. Saxophonists can choose from five different models for all six members of the family, including hard rubber and metal versions. Selmer (Paris) uses only solid rod bar stock material for its hard rubber mouthpieces, including several boring, milling and adjustments to the tip, rails and chamber. Other mouthpieces offered by Selmer are Selmer (USA), Goldentone, George M. Bundy, and Bundy. These lines represent student to professional models made from plastic, hard rubber and brass.

The newest addition to the Selmer line is the “Soloist” saxophone mouthpieces from Selmer Paris. The new “Soloist” mouthpieces for alto and tenor saxophones designed by Selmer (Paris) have been inspired by the older “Soloist” model manufactured in the 1940s. Features include a round throat and traditional bead design. Precision-tooled from a hard rubber bar, its inner chamber offers a direct volume with a warm, centered sound to play both jazz and classical repertoire. Available in facings C star through F.

United Musical Instruments
www.unitedmusical.com

United Musical Instruments U.S.A., Inc., manufactures and distributes several lines of mouthpieces for both woodwind and brasswind instruments. The CKB Acousti-Balance mouthpiece offers superb control and enhances the overall projection of the instrument, and is available for trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn. UMI Brasswind Mouthpieces for the entire brasswind family are centered and focused, without the tone becoming too dark. The rim, cup, throat and back-bore are all of traditional sizes, making it easy to select the mouthpiece size perfect for any musical style. E-Z Tone Brasswind Mouthpieces are a result of high manufacturing standards and excellent silver-plating and are available in standard cup sizes.

Christian Lindberg Trombone Mouthpieces have an outer shape carefully designed to provide the optimal acoustical balance in all registers. John Marcellus Trombone Mouthpieces, designed by John Marcellus, are a superb large shank mouthpiece for symphonic tenor trombonists, featuring a somewhat rounded rim. Remington Trombone Mouthpieces, designed by Emory Remington, combine a deep 1-1/4H cup with a 1-1/2 rim. The custom shank places the mouthpiece closer to the lead pipe venturi for less resistance and freer response. George Roberts Trombone Mouthpieces, designed by George Roberts, have a deep cup and well-rounded rim. Jiggs Whigham Trombone Mouthpieces, designed by Jiggs Whigham, enable jazz players to easily handle upper register work. Helleberg Tuba and Sousaphone Mouthpieces – named after the principal tubist of the Sousa band – produce a deep, organ-like tone with excellent volume.

UMI Woodwind Mouthpieces, available for the clarinet and saxophone family, are made of hard rubber and have excellent focus, a full resonant tone and a balanced response. E-Z Tone Woodwind Mouthpieces offer excellent quality and superior workmanship at student prices. With the exception of the bass clarinet model, which is hard rubber, all models are injection molded using the finest, virgin quality plastic. E. Rousseau Saxophone Mouthpieces, developed by the distinguished professor of Music at Indiana University’s School of Music, have a unique, practical design that balances the baffle, sidewalls and facing; use only the finest quality hard rubber and metal; are the result of thorough and exhaustive field testing; and are carefully inspected prior to shipping.

UMI Premium Double Reeds are made of the finest select cane available from the Var region of France, and their long-scraped profiled blades, matched to an incredible .004-inch at the tip, feature distinct spines and heart lines, the criteria by which professional reeds are judged. UMI Premium Plastic Double Reeds, like the premium cane reeds, combine the industry’s most advanced manufacturing techniques with professional hand-finishing and testing. UMI Double Reeds are finished and adjusted by hand. Each is tested for response, tonal quality and strength.

Also available from UMI are Rico Reeds (for clarinet and saxophone), LaVoz Reeds (for clarinet and saxophone), Mitchell Lurie Clarinet Reeds and Hemke Premium Saxophone Reeds.

Vandoren Paris
www.vandoren.com

In 1985, while at the Frankfurt Musikmesse show, John DAddario Jr. and his brother Jim developed a relationship with Bernard Van Doren. The relationship grew quickly as Van Doren and the D’Addario brothers discovered and discussed the striking similarities and challenges of their respective family businesses. This, combined with the commonalties found in their advanced engineering talent and strategic marketing sense, made Vandoren and J. D’Addario a perfect match. In 1986, J. D’Addario & Company Inc. became the sole North American distributor of Vandoren reeds and mouthpieces.

Several new mouthpieces have emerged within the past few years. New Clarinet mouthpieces include the M15 and M15 13 series, M30 and M30 13 series. The latest release for the saxophone is the V16 alto sax mouthpieces, a hard rubber mouthpiece styled after the old New York Meyer. Available in two chambers – small and medium – the V16 is offered with three different facings (A5, A6 and A7) for each chamber.

Many new accessories have also been introduced over the past year with more to follow. A new clarinet reed case that holds up to eight reeds, the reed resurfacer has returned to the product offering, and new microfiber polishing cloths and swabs have also been added. The twin pack has also been added, offering two reeds per pack with a re-useable reed case.

Warburton Music Products
www.warburton-usa.com

Warburton president Terry Warburton began crafting custom brass mouthpieces nearly 25 years ago in Toronto, Canada. In 1977, he launched a standard line of trumpet mouthpieces featuring interchangeable tops and back bores. Relocating to Florida in 1980, he expanded the trumpet mouthpiece line and added French horn and trombone models. During the last decade the company has employed a computer lathe system to make brass instrument mouthpieces of all kinds. Today the company’s Orlando shop includes 10 CNC lathes as well as manual machines.

The company currently offers its Warburton Interchangeable Backbore System trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, French horn, tenor trombone, symphony tenor trombone, bass trombone, tuba and euphonium.

Yamaha
www.yamaha.com

Yamaha makes a large selection of both brass and woodwind mouthpieces as well as distributing reeds by Jones Double Reeds, Richards Reeds, Rico, and Vandoren.

Yamaha’s mouthpiece production techniques ensure consistent, quality mouthpieces time after time. The company’s computer-aided design system and computer-controlled lathe work in tandem to produce the most precise and consistent mouthpieces in the world.

Yamaha produces a wide variety of brass mouthpieces, from standard student mouthpieces to professional mouthpieces like the Sterling Silver Series (which are made of solid sterling silver and produce a rich, dark tone with an articulate response) and the Gold-plated Rim/Cup series. The Signature and Replica series of mouthpieces were designed to the exact specifications of Yamaha’s world-class artists, including Bobby Shew, Allen Vizzutti, James Sommerville, Doug Yeo, and Roger Bobo, to name a few.

In addition to producing standard woodwind mouthpieces that are known for their great playing and student-friendly characteristics, Yamaha also makes a Custom Series professional ebonite mouthpiece for clarinet, which is refaced and hand-adjusted by Dr. David Townsend, who has more than 20 years of experience as a professional performing musician and more than 18 years of experience in woodwind customization and repair.

Zonda Reeds/Sonaré Winds
www.sonarewinds.com

Sonaré Winds, a new division of Verne Q. Powell Flutes, manufactures woodwind instruments and accessories, including Zonda reeds.

Zonda reeds are created with some of the world’s finest reed cane, which is grown in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, on land converted from century-old vineyards. No pesticides are ever used in the production of Zonda cane. Using the highest hand selection standards at every step, the cane undergoes a manufacturing process that includes marking of the orientation of the growth of the cane so that the tip of the reed is cut from the top of the blank, a crucial step that is omitted by many manufacturers.

Zonda reeds are available in two lines: Zonda Supreme and Zonda Classico.

Zonda Supreme saxophone and clarinet reeds are packed five to a box. To ensure quality and consistency from reed to reed, Zonda has developed a proprietary sub-strength grading system for the Zonda Supreme line. Within each conventional strength grading, there are several sub strengths (i.e., soft, medium, hard). This produces an unprecedented and exceptional level of control and reed consistency to maximize your yield of usable reeds.

You can find the sub-strength on our “seal of quality” on the back of the Zonda box. This seal shows a lot number that allows us to track harvest date, plantation, and sub-strength of each box of Zonda reeds to provide the highest level of quality control.

Zonda Classico clarinet reeds offer professional quality at a student price. Zonda Classico uses the same pesticide-free cane as Zonda Supreme from the same select plantations. Reeds are also hand-selected to keep the growth direction properly oriented; the cut is traditional, designed to appeal to a broad range of clarinetists. Classico reeds are packed in lots of 10 in a distinctive kraft box with green and black woodcut style printing.